Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Rice Bake
This cheesy chicken enchilada rice bake combines chicken, rice, and enchilada sauce, all smothered in a cheesy topping. It’s weeknight dinner goals, and it’s so good you’ll want leftovers for lunch.
Cheesy Mexican rice casseroles are right up my alley.
They are usually tasty, filling and so useful as leftovers because they reheat so well.
This particular casserole is inspired by Mexican brown rice and beans, spinning the side dish into a spicy, zesty family friendly dinner. It is ready for you to customize with toppings like fresh avocado, sour cream or chopped cilantro.
MEXICAN BROWN RICE BAKE
This Mexican Brown Rice Bake is my homage to home cooking. I made the refried beans and the enchilada sauce from scratch, like a true home cook, which was my culture growing up.
My mom was a real housewife, but not like one from the OC, that’s for sure. 😉
She got up before everyone, packed school lunches consisting of sandwiches on homemade bread, fresh baked cookies, and fruit from our trees. Then it was onto hot breakfasts for us four kids, followed by cleaning and organizing our massive home, and picking veggies from our garden to go with dinner.
I feel like it’s a life I would love for myself. Minus the four kids, of course. Louis the cat works for us. 😉
This tastes fabulous with some creamy fresh avocado or a dollop of sour cream.
I hope you make it with love and share it with the ones you cherish. 🙂
This casserole heats up well the next day. It’s not sloppy or messy, so toting it around in your lunch bag is pretty easy.
I like to spin the leftovers into a new meal and use them as a burrito filler!
HOW TO MAKE BROWN RICE:
I have two tried and true methods to cooking perfect brown rice.
Easy brown rice on a stove – Stovetop Method for Brown Rice
Brown rice for meal prep – Instant Pot Method for Brown Rice
WATCH HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE!
MORE GLUTEN FREE CHICKEN RECIPES:
- Chicken Taco Salad
- Three Bean Chicken Soup
- Baked Chicken Fajitas
- Chicken Fried Brown Rice
- Gluten Free Baked Chicken Fingers
- Chicken Vegetable Soup with Spinach
Be sure to follow me on social media! I love pinning to Pinterest, sharing on Facebook and posting pics to Instagram. See you there. 🙂
Originally posted March 18, 2015. Updated February 5, 2020.
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Mexican Brown Rice Bake – Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 2 cooked chicken breasts shredded
- 1 cup dry brown rice
- 1 cup refried beans
- 3/4 cup enchilada sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1/2 pepper diced
- 2 tsp chili flakes optional
Instructions
- Cook brown rice –> I use this stove top method or this one for your Instant Pot
- Heat oven to 350 and grease a 9×9 baking dish
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the shredded chicken and enchilada sauce. Mix in the rice and beans and stir until it’s all combined
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared 9×9 dish and top with the shredded cheese, diced peppers and chili flakes
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, then broil for 2-3 to get a bit of crispiness to the layer of cheese
